Solar energy harvesting, storage, and propagation in nanoscale and micro-scale structures

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to nanowires, nanospheres and microspherical structures derived from keratin, such as bird feathers. Such structures may be utilized to form biodegradable, organic, non-toxic solar cells for the purpose of propagating energy in a circuit of an electronic device. Structures of the present invention can also be utilized in pharmaceutical delivery devices and biosensing purposes, in particular, detecting cancerous cells in vivo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A semi conducting, solar light energy propagating structure comprising: varying diameters that absorbs and propagates solar light over a range of wavelengths; wherein the structure is a reproduced replica of an avian feather. 
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises nano wires, nano spheres, microspheres, nano tubes, and quantum dots. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the structure is a solar cell. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 3 , wherein the structure harnesses and propagates light energy via plasmons. 
     
     
         5 . An electronic device comprising the structure of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the structure is operatively connected to the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the structure is derived from a keratin substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the structure is an artificially reproduced replica of an avian feather. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic device is a quantum computer. 
     
     
         10 . A method of energizing a circuit of the electronic device of  claim 5 , comprising:
 extracting a feather from a bird;   removing a keratin substrate from the feather, wherein the keratin substrate comprises the nano wires, nano spheres, microspheres, and nano tubes of the structure;   degrading the feather keratin by ultraviolet irradiation causing the by-products of keratin degradation to increase in concentration;   assembling the by-products into the nano wires, nano spheres, microspheres, and nano tubes of the structure; and   utilizing the nano wires, nano spheres, microspheres, and nano tubes of the structure to propagate energy in a circuit of the electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . A method of creating a solar cell, comprising:
 organizing from a keratin substrate a series of interconnected hollow chambers that connect to a central shaft similarly comprised of interconnected hollow chambers;   lining the inside of the hollow chambers with nanowires;   passing light through the keratin substrate;   harvesting photocurrent by the nanowires.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising controlling a flow of electromagnetic energy through the solar cell by a protein molecule switch. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solar cell has an energy conversion rate up to 43.5%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solar cell has an energy conversion rate up to 80%. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the keratin substrate is acquired from wool, feathers, or hair. 
     
     
         16 . A method of detecting cancerous tumors in the body, comprising:
 forming nano wires, nano spheres, or microspherical structures from a keratin substrate;   applying ultraviolet radiation to the nano wires, nano spheres, and microspherical structures, wherein such structures fluoresce blue light under ultraviolet illumination;   introducing the nano wires, nano spheres, and microspherical structures into the body with suspected cancerous tumors; and   determining the location of cancerous tumors in the body as the structures fluorescing blue light migrate towards areas of the body containing cancerous tumors.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the nano wires, nano spheres, or microspherical structures formed from the keratin substrate are quantum dots. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the quantum dots are non-toxic, organic substances. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the quantum dots encapsulate pharmaceuticals used for cancer treatment, so that when the quantum dots come into contact with a cancerous tumor, the quantum dots provide localized release of the pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein introducing the quantum dots into the body is via topical solutions administered to the skin and/or hair.